Soil Health Farm Tour
Farmers in southeastern Minnesota are taking steps to build healthy soil by deploying a range of conservation practices on their land. Stop by their farms or explore their web pages to learn about their experiences through this self-guided tour.
Large signs along the edges of farmers’ fields highlight practices — such as conservation tillage, grazing livestock, and planting cover crops — that they implement to reduce erosion and improve the health of their soil. Accompanying flyers available at the tour stops and these web pages provide more detail about each farmers’ experiences.
Explore the interactive map and resources below.
Soil Health Farm Tour Stops
Farms featured on the tour are located in the Cannon, Cedar, and Root River watersheds.
Twin Oaks Farm
Cannon River
- Cover crops
- Grassed waterways
- No till and strip till
- Nutrient management
Honken Farms
Cannon River
- Cover crops
- No till and minimal till
- Nutrient management
- Perennial plantings (Kernza®)
- Prescribed grazing
Simple Harvest Farm
Cannon River
- No till
- Nutrient management
- Perennial plantings
- Prescribed grazing
Sommers Farm
Cannon River
- Buffer strips
- Cover crops
- Grassed waterways
- No till and minimum till
- Nutrient management
- Sediment basins
Tour Spotlight: Simple Harvest Farm
Kathy Zeman and her brother Nick operate a 20-acre farm with a perennial pasture and livestock. The livestock, land, crops, and produce are all organic.
Additional resources
The Minnesota Agricultural Water Quality Certification Program (MAWQCP) certifies farmers for managing the land within their operation in a way that protects water quality.
Help us grow the tour
Add your farm
Interested in highlighting your soil health practices in action? We are actively seeking new farmers and soil and water conservation district partners to expand the tour.
Support the tour
Environmental Initiative aspires to expand farmer soil health storytelling efforts across Minnesota. Contact us to discuss contributing or to learn more.
Project Contacts
Communications professionals Emily and Natalie are working to share the good news about on farm conservation practices and soil health. Contact them with your questions about the Soil Health Farm Tour or to learn more.
Emily Haley
Communications Director she/her Email Emily Office: 612-334-3388 ext. 8110 Cell: 612-450-5041
Natalie Rademacher
Communications Coordinator she/her Email Natalie Office: 612-334-3388 ext. 8111 Cell: 612-425-4936Our Partners
